RANKIN INLET
Justin Trudeau made the best of the short amount of time he was afforded to spend with people in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Neoma Kippomee Cox share a laugh while trying to adjust Cox's cellphone for a photo, as baby Brianna gets a kick out of the action in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The federal Liberal leader spent more than 30 minutes greeting folks inside Rankin's airport terminal building, and posing for pictures, on his way to Iqaluit from the NWT.

Trudeau said he was touring the North because it's vitally important to connect with the people here and understand their needs and concerns.

He said Prime Minister Stephen Harper talks a lot about Northern sovereignty, but it needs to go through the people who live in the communities and who have always lived here.

"I'd love to be able to return and spend more time in Rankin Inlet and some of the other communities here, but, the fact is, it's a very big country," said Trudeau.

"We have a lot of work to do across the country, and having only 35 seats in the House of Commons means I have to cover an awful lot of ground.

"But, I was glad to spend, at least, a bit of time in Rankin Inlet and I certainly hope to come back in the future."

Trudeau said he's not particularly playing a hands-on role in selecting the Liberal candidate for Nunavut.

He said there's a number of people interested in the challenge, and he's confident the Liberals will come up with a great candidate in Nunavut.

"Whoever becomes our candidate in Nunavut will have my full support as part of a great Liberal team focusing on forming a better government for Canadians."

Trudeau didn't mince any words when asked about the Nutrition North Canada program.

He said in its current format, Nutrition North is a failed program.

"The auditor general put out a scathing report, saying even how it's applied is not fair to people who live across the North.

"And there's no guarantees, at all, that the savings are actually being passed on to consumers.

"Even anecdotally, I've spoken to many, many people across the North who are terribly frustrated by the high price of food.

"The government has to have a role to play in making sure people can afford to feed their families, and we've (Liberal Party) committed to fixing and improving Nutrition North."

Trudeau often attracts additional scrutiny on the campaign trail due to the legacy of his father; former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Justin said facing the pressure of living up to his father's name is a challenge he's lived with since he was a little boy.

He said his father has always loomed very large in his life.

"One of the things I've found - as I've become an adult, and as I've worked hard to carve my own path - is people are understanding I'm my own person, and I'm very proud of the things I've achieved that are independent from my father's name.

"The legacy of my family name and working hard to carve my own path go hand-in-hand, so, of course, I'm absolutely comfortable with it. A lot of people have fond memories of my father and I appreciate their support.

"But, I also know a lot of other people have less-fond memories and I have to work hard to overcome that.

"It's the hand I've been dealt and I'm very proud to be my father's son."

Justin laughed warmly when asked if he's ever been tempted to answer a reporter's question with a simple, "Just watch me."

His response to the query was predictable, and as warm as it was firm.

"That was his thing," said Justin. "I'll do my own."

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